Plan for walking path divides a neighborhood

EAST WHITELAND — A controversial plan for an access path to the Chester Valley Trail has divided the Chester Valley Knoll neighborhood and turned some of its residents against township officials.

The planned Deer Run Lane connector trail has its neighbors questioning its necessity, while some who live in houses further from the trail support a connecting path.

The access path would be on a township-owned sewage pumping station and has opponents saying the path will cause problems on their small residential street, while supporters say the trail will allow walkers in the neighborhood to safely access the trail instead of traveling over busy roads.

“I think that we’re elected to make difficult decisions,” said supervisors’ Chairwoman Virginia McMichael. “We would be shirking our responsibility if we didn’t decide, in fear of shaking up the township due to controversy.”

The Deer Run Lane access path was originally proposed about two years ago by neighbors who wanted a way to use the Chester Valley Trail without having to drive to another access point or cross over heavily traveled roads, according to McMichael. After recognizing township-owned property on Deer Run Lane, it became a possible site for a community access path.

“Our first concern is going through people’s property and we wanted to try to avoid that,” McMichael said.

Kelly DiPrinzio, a neighbor who lives adjacent to the proposed path, said she and her family found out about the proposed connector site after seeing someone from the township walking around the property and placing stakes in the ground. DiPrinzio says her husband, Mike DiPrinzio, was told the site may become a small connector path for the trail.

Since then, the controversial path has raised a heated debate.

“This path has been destroying the character of this neighborhood and its relationships,” said Kelly DiPrinzio.

One of the biggest concerns, DiPrinzio said, stems from whether the public and those from outside communities will use the path as an access point to the trail. She said she worries for the safety of the more than 20 neighborhood children under age 10, especially because the path will be near a school bus stop.

Esther Himler, who lives next to the trail, said she worries about additional traffic in the neighborhood, where children often play outside.

Deer Run Lane resident Terri Schneider said Chester County’s estimate that 30,000 to 40,000 people use the Chester Valley Trail a month raises alarm.

“We’re not saying that people who walk or ride their bikes on the trail are all nasty people, but having that volume of people with the ability to walk through this neighborhood using that access path is concerning,” said Deer Run Lane resident Terri Schneider.

While McMichael said the township plans for the access path to be used mainly by those who live in the Chester Valley Knoll neighborhood, the DiPrinzios point to paperwork they obtained through Right-To-Know requests that indicate the access path “will allow both East Whiteland residents and residents from other municipalities the ability to access the trail safely.”

Township Manager Terry Woodman said the connector trail would be constructed with only the Chester Valley Knoll community in mind and that the language simply refers to the public Battle of the Clouds access path.

“The intent was to create a connecting path that would allow the residents of the approximately 110 homes in this community to exclusively access the trail in a convenient and safe manner,” said Woodman.

The finances of the access path have also been a point of contention.

The township was originally given a $10,000 PECO Green Region matching grant to construct two access points to the path, with the first being completed at Battle of the Clouds Park, said Woodman. The township has about half of the original grant money left, she said, and with that being matched, the township would have to spend a minimum of about $10,000 on the project.

The actual estimated cost of the connector path will be about $21,432, according to Woodman, although that does not include attorney fees or township labor costs.

According to McMichael, neighbors of the proposed site have hired attorneys and raised questions concerning the path. In response, township supervisors have authorized Woodman to assume the role as applicant for the access path and hire an attorney to respond to those questions, a procedure advised by the township’s solicitor.

McMichael said the next steps include Woodman submitting an application for the path under the advisement of her attorney, after she appoints one. Then a hearing will be set for the community to discuss the pros and cons before the board makes a final decision.

McMichael estimated this will not happen until September at the earliest. If any resident is upset with the final decision, McMichael said, they can appeal it in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.

“Why are they so willing to fight for keeping this path when there is so much contention and heat surrounding it?” asked Kelly DiPrinzio. “It just doesn’t seem worth it.”